Neapolitan Smoothie Shake

Okay, I'll admit it now, I LOVE smoothies.  Summertime turns me into a smoothie addict, but there's nothing wrong with that, right?  My freezer is currently stocked with frozen fruit: bananas, watermelon, mangos, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, you name it!  The best thing about smoothies are the endless possibilities, and how you don't really have to follow a recipe.  (Although, yes, I do own 365 Vegan Smoothies, and recommend it!)  Something I learned from this book is how amazing frozen bananas and watermelon blend into a frothy, creamy shake.

I'm sure most of you reading this have had "banana ice cream" by blending frozen bananas with a non-dairy milk until it turns into, well, ice cream.  I often add a spoonful of peanut butter and cocoa powder to mine for a super decadent shake.  This recipe takes this idea to the next level though, Neapolitan.  A layer of sweet vanilla, rich chocolate, and fruity strawberry "ice cream," mmm.  My best vanilla shakes happen when I blend frozen bananas and watermelon: they're creamy, sweet, and tinted pink.  If you are an aspiring smoothie addict, I recommend always having bananas and cubed watermelon waiting for you in the freezer.  (I mean you're a handful of fresh mint away from making a Shamrock Shake, try it).

Raw Kale Taco Salad W/ Cilantro Cashew Cheese

I love love love baby kale salads.  This past week at the farmer's market I picked up a big bag of baby kale, knowing I was going to eat this salad for the next few days.  With all of the coconut milk ice cream and smart dogs I tend to indulge in during the summer, I try to balance things out with smoothies, fresh fruit, raw nuts, and raw meals.  Did I mention my proximity to a vegan bakery specializing in donuts?  Luckily my town also has a pretty amazing farmer's market to help keep me on track.  If you don't have baby kale, just pick up one bunch of kale.  To make raw kale easier to chew, I chop up the kale into bite-sized pieces, and when rinsing in the sink I scrunch and massage the kale for about a minute until it gets noticeably tenderer.  Baby kale is tender enough for my taste, so I skip this step when using it.

Like all salads, this is pretty customizable.  If you don't have sunflower seeds, you can use pumpkin seeds or any nuts you may have on hand.  Feel free to add additional veggies, like a chopped red or yellow pepper.  The dressing is very tangy (a drizzle of agave can be added if you prefer it sweeter), but it will mild out after covering the entire salad.  The dressing is only enough for one salad, but the cashew cheese and sunflower seeds are enough for multiple salads.  Make sure you pick up a few limes if you plan on making multiple salads.

Strawberry Basil Spelt Hand Pies

Finally, a second post!  So I totally intend on updating more regularly than every three weeks, but soon after launching the site, I went on a week long camping trip with my sister (Zion, Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands...swoon).  Hopefully I'll get better at balancing adventuring, blogging, and working (did I mention I'm also sick?)  When I get my film back from the trip, I plan to post some photos along with a camp recipe.  But for now, another dessert!